Iran will resume sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Umrah after a six-month suspension, with 18,000 people scheduled to travel in the first phase of the programme. The restart was announced by Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation and reported by the official Fars News Agency.

Akbar Rezaei, deputy head of the organisation for Hajj and Umrah affairs, said that during the initial phase one flight will depart every five days from different provinces to Saudi Arabia. Registration for Umrah was set to begin in early Shahrivar, the sixth month of Iran's Solar Hijri calendar, which starts in late August.

A large backlog of pilgrims

The first phase of 18,000 pilgrims represents only a small fraction of demand. According to the organisation, about five million holders of Umrah registration vouchers are currently waiting to make the journey. The scale of that backlog underlines how significant the suspension had been for Iranian worshippers hoping to visit the two holy cities.

In earlier periods, roughly 200,000 Iranians travelled for Umrah in less than a year. Towards the end of the previous cycle, more than 1,300 pilgrims a day were departing from Iran to Saudi Arabia. Returning to that pace will take time, and officials have made clear that the programme will expand gradually.

Flights and currency shape the pace

The continuation and expansion of the programme depend on two practical constraints. The organisation must finalise flight arrangements and secure the foreign currency required for the trips. Part of the cost of Umrah is linked to foreign currency, while limits on available flights could also affect future departures.

The debate over how to fund the pilgrimage has drawn different views inside Iran. Economic expert Hamed Aslani argued that the foreign-currency cost should be calculated at the actual exchange rate, warning that allocating cheaper currency would shift the financial burden onto the government. Ehsan Malekzadeh, a pilgrimage group manager, took a different position, saying Hajj and Umrah should not be treated as ordinary leisure travel and calling on the authorities to provide currency at an appropriate rate so that costs do not exclude some pilgrims.

Proposals to stabilise costs

To manage the uncertainty, experts have proposed that Iran's central bank allocate a set share of the foreign currency needed by the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation before each phase of departures, and fix the rate for the duration of the relevant contracts. They said this could prevent swings in the currency market from being passed directly on to the price of pilgrimage packages.

Officials have also suggested consolidating airline and service contracts to reduce the foreign-currency cost per pilgrim and to allow more departures in line with confirmed resources. With 18,000 pilgrims scheduled in the first phase and five million voucher holders waiting, the pace of future travel will hinge on both flight availability and access to currency.

A significant market for the holy cities

Iranian pilgrims have long formed one of the larger national groups performing Umrah, and the resumption is closely watched by travel operators on both sides. The earlier figure of around 200,000 travellers in under a year shows the scale of demand that the programme is now beginning to serve again after its pause.

For the two holy cities, the steady return of Iranian pilgrims adds to the broad international flow that Saudi Arabia is working to expand under its wider Umrah strategy. How quickly that flow rebuilds will depend on the logistics described by officials, but the direction is clear as registration reopens and the first flights are scheduled.

Practical tips for prospective pilgrims

  • Register early: Given the large waiting list, prospective pilgrims should complete registration through official channels as soon as it opens.
  • Budget for currency shifts: Costs are tied to foreign-exchange rates, so plan finances with some flexibility.
  • Confirm flight schedules: With limited departures in the early phases, verify dates carefully before making arrangements.
  • Follow official updates: Rely on the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation for accurate information on phases and timelines.

According to the organisation, the restart marks the first step in clearing a substantial backlog, though the speed of subsequent departures remains tied to logistics and funding.